May 4, 2008--Seventh Sunday of Easter
10:30 a.m.
Lord, I lift Your Name on high.
Lord I love to sing your praises;
I'm so glad you're in my life.
I'm so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,
Lord, I lift Your Name on high.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
I will praise Him.
He is exalted, forever exalted
And I will praise His name!
He is the Lord, forever His truth shall reign.
Heaven and earth rejoice in His holy name.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
I will praise Him.
He is exalted, forever exalted
And I will praise His name!
He is the Lord, forever His truth shall reign.
Heaven and earth rejoice in His holy name.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
For Thou, Oh, Lord, art high above all the earth,
Thou art exalted far above all gods;
For Thou, Oh, Lord, art high above all the earth,
Thou art exalted far above all gods.
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, O Lord.
God be near us as we travel
And help us when we fall;
In the chaos that surrounds us
Send your hope through it all.
Be mercy for our madness
At the world and ones we love,
A gentle rain of healing from above.
God be near us as we travel
And help us when we fall;
In the chaos that surrounds us
Send your hope through it all.
Be mercy for our madness
At the world and ones we love,
A gentle rain of healing from above.
You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp your infinite wisdom,
Who can fathom the depth of your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty enthroned above.
And I stand, I stand in awe of You;
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You.
You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp your infinite wisdom,
Who can fathom the depth of your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty enthroned above.
And I stand, I stand in awe of You;
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You.
And I stand, I stand in awe of You;
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You.
SCRIPTURE LESSON--I PETER 4:12-14; 5:6-11
12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL LESSON--JOHN 17:1-11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
6I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one."
LITANY FOR RACHEL'S DAY
L: Open our eyes, God,
C: So we may see the value of all God's children and that we may together plan for their safety and protection.
L: Open our ears, God,
C: So that we may hear the cries of the youth who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition and that we may together plan for their feeding and sustenance.
L: Open our hearts, God,
C: So that we may feel the powerlessness of the teens who are struggling to succeed in homes plagued with apathy, divisions, anger, and hopelessness and that we may help provide words of comfort, paths of power and courage for their successful journey to adulthood.
L: Open our lips, God,
C: So that we may overtly confront racism and sexism and that we may together bring about the utopia of unity in diversity necessary for our babies' growth and wholeness.
L: Open our minds, God,
C: and purge away individualism, negative pride and superior attitudes, and help us to understand that each and every child of God is given bountiful gifts regardless of color, gender, or race.
L: Open our arms, God,
C: So we may welcome children whose parents are incarcerated, absent from the home or struggling with addiction, and help us, together, to provide them with the love, strength and the stability needed to run this race of life.
L: Open us, God, so we may feel the breath of your spirit;
C: Open us, God, so we may feel the power of your majesty;
Open us, God, so that together we may be strengthened to bring about human liberation and wholeness for our children.
I believe in Jesus
I believe He is the Son of God.
I believe He died and rose again,
I believe He paid for us all.
And I believe that He's here now,
Standing in our midst.
Here with the power to heal now,
And the grace to forgive.
I believe in You, Lord,
I believe You are the son of God.
I believe You died and rose again,
I believe You paid for us all.
And I believe that You're here now,
Standing in our midst.
Here with the power to heal now,
And the grace to forgive.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, " I am strong,"
Let the poor say, "I am rich because of what
The Lord has done for us."
And now let the weak say, " I am strong,"
Let the poor say, "I am rich because of what
The Lord has done for us."
Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
Who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION MUSIC (refer to hymnal)
Lord, Be Glorified (ELW #744)
What a Fellowship (ELW #774)
COMMUNION PRAYER
Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give?
Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me;
Oh, how He love you and me.
BENEDICTION-PASTOR
SENDING SONG-Find Us Faithful
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives he live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Go in the assurance and love of the Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.